|In Atlanta, a picture is taken of Zib and [[Zib's band|his band]] performing, including [[Mitzi]]. Rocky is kicked out of the [[McMurray House]]. He is 16 years old.

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|In Atlanta, a picture is taken of Zib and [[Zib's band|his band]] performing, including [[Mitzi]]. Freckle's father dies. Rocky is kicked out of the [[McMurray House]] and goes to live with his uncle and work as a farmhand. Freckle is 12 years old; Rocky is 16.

According to Bobby, Viktor participates in a confrontation between dockworkers, strikebreakers and the authorities. In an effort to subdue him, Viktor sustains a pry bar injury that costs him his right eye. In the area on unrelated business, Atlas takes note of Viktor. Viktor's St. Louis Police Department file records Viktor being arrested on charges of multiple assault. His case history includes involvement in the incitement of violence during a strikers' rally at the municipal docks. According to Bobby, Atlas arranges for a lawyer for Viktor who in turn has Viktor's prison sentence reduced. Viktor subsequently works for Atlas to pay off his debt, then remains with Atlas because he has nowhere else to go.

Mordecai and Viktor are employed by Lackadaisy and work together for several years. Mordecai is known variously as "Ol'Serious Face" and Atlas's "golden boy", and there are multiple stories about him. Atlas, possibly with Ruby Pepper's assistance, arranges for liquor to be brought to Defiance, Missouri by train, where Abelard, Bobby and Elsa store it at the Arbogast Funeral Home pending transfer to Lackadaisy. When a third party begins stealing the liquor, Atlas brings Mordecai and Viktor to Defiance. They learn that the third party has been selling the stolen liquor to a St. Louis-based gang that is in competition with Marigold. The three put a stop to that operation. Atlas and Mordecai return to St. Louis while Viktor remains in Defiance for some time before also returning to St. Louis.

In Atlanta, a picture is taken of Zib and his band performing, including Mitzi. Freckle's father dies. Rocky is kicked out of the McMurray House and goes to live with his uncle and work as a farmhand. Freckle is 12 years old; Rocky is 16.

Rocky writes Freckle another letter. Rocky is in central Oklahoma. He wishes he could visit St. Louis during the summer. Rocky asks whether Freckle has seen Rocky's father, as Rocky's letters to him have gone unacknowledged. In a later letter, Rocky states that he has joined a circus as a roustabout. While parts of this letter are obscured, it appears that a hostler suggested that Rocky might be able to work as an escape artist. An envelope that may have contained one or both of these letters indicates a return address of Custer, South Dakota, though no street information is provided. Freckle's address appears to be 1116 North Benton Avenue, St. Charles, Missouri. A bench warrant is issued for Zib after he fails to show up in court to address having been picked up at a hop house.

Rocky writes a letter to Freckle, in which he states that the circus "went south". It appears that Rocky may have received a fiddle from a hobo on a train near the Dakotas, though a number of wasps were inside it.

A picture is taken during a New Year's party at Lackadaisy. Mordecai, Mitzi, Atlas, Viktor and Ivy are prominent in the foreground. Horatio and Wick are amongst the guests. Zib's band, including Zib and Rocky, are on stage in the far rear of the picture.

Atlas is killed. There are rumors that Mitzi may be involved in his death. Asa later claims he warned Atlas that he was getting in over his head. Mitzi takes over Little Daisy and Lackadaisy. Mordecai tries to convince Viktor to retire and ultimately kneecaps him before leaving Lackadaisy. In a possibly-related incident, Viktor almost removes Doctor Quackenbush's arms. Mordecai and the Arbogast Funeral Home group begin working for Marigold.

"Reciprocity" through "Rendezvous". Rocky and Freckle destroy the pig farm. Ivy meets Freckle and gives him a Lackadaisy pin. Wick, Church and associates go to Lackadaisy to hear Mitzi's proposal. With "indirect assistance" from Asa, the pig farmers break into Lackadaisy but are shot and incapacitated by Freckle. Viktor is shot in the chest and treated by Quackenbush; Wick pays for the doctor's visit after Ivy points out that it would be the chivalrous thing to do. Wick and Mitzi kiss for the first time; Rocky inadvertently sees the kiss.

"Daybreak" through "Nightmare". Mitzi, Freckle and Rocky meet with Asa and Mordecai. Asa admits that Mordecai removed the guns from Lackadaisy's storeroom and provided them to the pig farmers. He also states that the agreements made with Atlas do not apply to Mitzi, and he is under orders from his employer. Asa encourages Mitzi to shut down Lackadaisy before matters deteriorate further, but Mitzi responds that she would rather take the risk than have Lackadaisy wilt away. Rocky learns from Viktor that quality alcohol can be found in Defiance. Mitzi steals and cashes a blank check from Wick's company to pay her debts. Zib and Virgil are arrested. Zib meets Dom Drago. Rocky and Ivy travel to Defiance, where a hearse intercepts them while they are attempting to procure liquor. Rocky is injured and rendered unconscious during the chase. Ivy confronts Abelard and Bobby who were in the hearse, and is taken to the Arbogast Funeral Home when she explains that she and Rocky are there on Lackadaisy's behalf. Ivy meets Elsa, and Bobby relates the funeral home's past relations with Lackadaisy. Ivy coerces Abelard and Bobby into agreeing to negotiate with her so that Lackadaisy might procure their liquor. Ivy and Rocky return to St. Louis.